Android 16 is out, complete with new features for Pixel phones including live notification updates
Google has released Android 16 to the masses, as it's now available for compatible handsets. The company says new devices will come preloaded with the OS in "the coming months." As usual, it's first coming to Google's own Pixel phones.
The update includes several notable features. The biggest one might be live updates in notifications. This means that stuff like ride-shares and food deliveries will get a progress bar directly in the notification, so folks won't have to constantly open and close the app to wonder why a burrito seems to be stuck four blocks away.
Also, notifications from the same app will now be automatically grouped together to reduce clutter and pings. There's now support for LE audio hearing aids, with a native control option. Users can also switch to the phone's microphone when using one of these hearing devices for clearer audio in noisy places.
Google has tied all of its security features together, so users can now be protected from "online attacks, harmful apps, unsafe websites, scam calls and more in just a tap." This includes new scam detection features that were previewed back in May.
Shutterbugs are getting a fairly robust suite of new features, including automatic night mode scene detection, hybrid auto exposure and more precise color temperature adjustments. UltraHDR images have been improved, with support for HEIC encoding, and Android 16 offers integration with the high-end Advanced Professional Video (APV) codec.
The company is finally bringing desktop windowing to Android, but it's not ready just yet. That feature will be available to general users later in the year, but Android 16 QPR 3 Beta 2 is currently previewing the feature.
There's also a neat Android ecosystem update with some nifty features. This includes upgraded RCS group chats, with custom icons and the ability to mute threads. Google Photos now offers an AI-enhanced image editor that will recommend suggested edits. Emoji Kitchen is receiving new sticker combinations and Wear OS devices can now pay for transit fares without having to open a dedicated app.
Finally, Google has offered details on the Pixel Drop for June. New features include a Pixel VIPs widget that displays information on preferred contacts and more expressive captions on videos.
Update, June 10, 2PM ET: Well, we jumped the gun on that a little bit. Android 16 should now be available, as previously (and incorrectly) stated. We regret the error.
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Some of the best earbuds are sleek and inconspicuous. The Skullcandy Method 360 ANC earbuds — made in collaboration with high-fidelity brand Bose — are not one of them. The Method 360 ANC earbuds are slap-you-in-the-face nostalgia, complete with a carrying case destined for low-slung skater pants. Besides being a blast from the past, the Method 360 ANC earbuds really benefit from this Bose sound. The bass is pumping, loud enough to be destined for the sticky dancefloors of yore. Don't think the bass overpowers detail, though — not at all. With a little EQ tweak, these earbuds can provide both electric bass and sharp detail. While they have a few connectivity annoyances, for just $129, these earbuds are most definitely underpriced. I'd get them now before Skullcandy realises and bumps up the cost. I'll discuss everything in extensive detail in this Skullcandy Method 360 ANC review. Price $129 / £99 Connectivity Bluetooth 5.3 ANC Yes Durability IPX4 Battery 9/32 hours (ANC) 11/40 hours (No ANC) Weight 2.7 ounces Drivers 12mm Dimensions 3.5 x 1.9 x 2 inches Colors Black, white, red, beige, leopard Compatibility iOS, Android The Skullcandy Method 360 ANC earbuds are extremely cheap considering their sound quality: just $129 from Amazon U.S. and £99 from Amazon U.K.. This makes them some of the cheapest earbuds I've tested, but oh boy, they do not sound like it. They're miles better than the $129 Soundcore Liberty 5 and not even in the same ballpark as the relatively impressive $99 EarFun Air Pro 4. I was actually gobsmacked when I found out how affordable these earbuds are. As I wrote above, the sound quality performs like earbuds double the price, if you can overlook the semi-cheugy design. At $129, they're the priciest earbuds on Skullcandy's roster (the Sesh and Rail buds are $69), but still very cheap when compared to rivals. 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I was able to customize my controls completely in the Skull-IQ app, including adding a volume control. Although most of the Method 360 ANC's features are excellent, I'm going to discuss my one issue first. As with other non-native gear, I found the earbuds a little annoying to switch between devices, even after setting up multi-point connectivity. When I removed the earbuds and did something else for a few minutes, once I put the earbuds back in, they didn't connect to my laptop or phone. I had to return the buds to the charging case, and then reinsert them. This is a little annoying, I suppose, but I also assume you're supposed to return the earbuds to the charging case after taking them out every time anyway. Another minor annoyance is the lack of single-ear wear detection. Skullcandy claims that the Method 360 ANC have wear detection, and that's only half accurate. Yes, if you take out one earbud, that earbud pauses. But the other one doesn't. Only the removed earbud pauses, which is kind of pointless. My AirPods pause my music entirely when I remove one earbud. While this isn't unheard of for $129/£99 earbuds, I'd like to see this as a toggleable feature on future versions. Now that's out of the way, I'll discuss everything I do like about the Skullcandy Method 360 ANCs. Firstly, these earbuds have IPX4, which means they'll be able to withstand mild water like gentle rain or sweat. However, they're not completely waterproof so don't go dunking them in the sink. Other cheaper earbuds have IPX5, like the EarFun Air 2 ($49) and EarFun Air 2 NC ($69), but this is really a negligible difference. The ANC is very good; I couldn't hear any street noise or ambient office sounds like typing and talking. There are 'Stay aware on', 'Stay aware off', and 'ANC'. I wish Stay aware was a little more, well, aware. When I tried to have a conversation with this ANC mode, I couldn't hear properly and had to remove the earbuds. 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I fiddled with the EQ settings in the SkullcandyIQ app, and reduced the low end and increased the mids to counteract this. Of course, if you love bass, then this step is unnecessary, but I wanted to get the most detail out of my music as possible. I listened to 'Fallen Alien' by FKA Twigs, which is an atmospheric, layered track with immersive percussion and almost cinematic synths. The choral sections were clear and seemed to surround my ears. I could hear every piece of audio detail, from the inflections in the lead vocal to the discordant bass and mids. The $129 earbuds did a fantastic job of both separating the instruments and detail, and also making the track sound harmonious. Afterwards, I switched genre. I played '3AM (LA LA LA)' by Confidence Man, a track with an all-consuming, heady '90s synth and pulsing bass. The bass was insistent and strong, although there was a little tinniness in the mids. To fix this, I adjusted the EQ ever so slightly. This made the kick drum crackle a touch, but really not bad considering these are $129 earbuds. To give the earbuds a thorough test, I wanted to play something really gritty and gristly. I opted for 'Endless, Nameless' by Nirvana, because what else? The bass growled in my left ear and the lead guitar screeched in my right. Neither instrument clipped or warped, and I could feel the raw vocal in my eardrums. I'm sure you already know, but 'Bad Guy' by Billie Eilish has a really intimate, breathy vocal, where Billie's voice feels like it's right next to you. None of this detail was lost on the Method 360 ANC earbuds, and I could hear all the layers of bass that are often lost on inferior earbuds. Where the Method 360 ANC earbuds excel is, of course, bass, but that doesn't mean they lack detail. I was never left longing for missed detail, and I could discern multiple layers of instruments in quite immersive tracks. To test the Method 360 ANC earbuds, I tested them out on a work call. The earbuds have 2 mics within each earbud, so 4 overall, and Skullcandy's 'Clear Voice Smart Mic', which is described as an 'AI-enabled' feature that isolates voices. My colleagues reported that I sounded crisp and clear, very similar to how I sound when I wear my usual AirPods Pro 2. I think for just $129/£99, this is an incredibly affordable way to get excellent call quality. Unlike the Skullcandy Crusher Evo headphones ($199), which use the Skullcandy app, the Method 360 ANC earbuds are compatible with the Skull-ID app. This app is very pleasant to use: it has an attractive UI and it's easy to navigate. There's an easily accessible range of features on the homepage, including firmware updates. Here's a screenshot from the app. The Skull-ID app is one of the better budget companion apps. It's more modern than the JBL app, but not as unique as the Soundcore app. With ANC off, the Method 360 ANC earbuds will play for 11 hours, and then an extra 29 with the case, so 40 hours overall. 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I think Skullcandy has absolutely nailed the sound quality here, and for just $129? It's a steal. If you can look past the slight connectivity issues and overly large charging case, then there's no reason why the Skullcandy Method 360 ANC earbuds can't be some of the best value wireless earbuds on the market today.
